Anyone watching Fox News?

Shep Smith was airing a car chase that ended with a guy getting out of the car, running down a dirt road, pulling out a gun, and shooting himself in the head. All aired live on TV, including the shot to the head and the guy falling to the ground. Shep and the producers are screaming to cut away, but they were too late.

After break, Shep claimed they were on a five second delay to protect viewers, but I wonder if they somehow were only delayed in the studio. By the time they started screaming to cut away, it was already a few seconds after the guy had shot himself in the head.

Quality apology afterward by Shep -- but that was way beyond inexcusable. Director and producer are going to be extraordinarily lucky if they have jobs at the end of the day.

They had a significant delay and still fucked it up. I was standing in my newsroom watching the live satellite feed -- the same one going into the Fox newsroom. I (unfortunately) watched the guy off himself live... then turned around and saw it on Fox 10 to 20 seconds later.

Putting editorial issues aside -- that network is spectacularly incompetent on the technical production side. Just awful.

Quality apology afterward by Shep -- but that was way beyond inexcusable. Director and producer are going to be extraordinarily lucky if they have jobs at the end of the day.

Click to expand...

Or they'll get promoted. Why do they air car chases? Because people watch car chases. Why do they watch car chases? Because of the possibility of a car crash. On air suicide's like an accident times 10. That's a wet dream for all of the sick voyeurs on both sides of the screen in this country.

Quality apology afterward by Shep -- but that was way beyond inexcusable. Director and producer are going to be extraordinarily lucky if they have jobs at the end of the day.

Click to expand...

Or they'll get promoted. Why do they air car chases? Because people watch car chases. Why do they watch car chases? Because of the possibility of a car crash. On air suicide's like an accident times 10. That's a wet dream for all of the sick voyeurs on both sides of the screen in this country.

Click to expand...

My sister texted me that she just watched a guy shoot himself on Fox News. The above was essentially what I told her in response. Depending on the national response, the director and producer will either be fired (if enough people start ripping on Fox, they'll be made scapegoats) or promoted (if there's not much outcry). But have no doubt, they got an absolute best-case scenario for what they were airing.